“Li Su, what are you—!?”
Xiao Ran blinked in stunned disbelief, furrowing her brow. That little brat was causing trouble again—she was probably sent by Huangmao just to get under her skin.
Yun Liu chuckled too.
“Didn’t you swear up and down that you’d refine the Heavenly Dao Elixir yourself to break through the realm? So much for that?”
“I—it’s not for eating! It’s to glimpse the mysteries of the Dao of Heaven. Once I’m done studying it, I’ll give it back. Know the enemy to defeat the enemy—get it?”
Li Su stuck her tongue out at Yun Liu. She didn’t have Sea Crystal Gold, but Mister did. Even if she caused a heaven-sized disaster, she’d still be Master’s treasured little darling.
“Who’s your Martial Aunt? If you want to learn, it’s simple—come rub my legs and say something sweet. Then I might just hand the Heavenly Dao Ginseng Pill recipe over to old Brother Canghai, why not?”
Yun Liu rolled his eyes, then greeted the two Island Lords trailing behind him with a completely different attitude than he showed everyone else.
“Really?”
Li Su’s little mouth fell open—clearly tempted—but she still stubbornly said, “Hmph, I… don’t care!”
“I’m joking. Since we’re friends, I shouldn’t take advantage of you. We’ll follow the Sea Market Rules to the letter.”
Canghai tapped the little girl on the head, giving a wry smile and a shake of his head, radiating the bearing of a true master.
The White Whale Island Master spread his palm, producing an object—a blue-black crystal that drew everyone’s gaze.
“I came across this by chance in a Dongtian Secret Realm once. After much investigation, I learned it’s Sea Crystal Gold. Little friend, you can have a Spirit Forger verify it on the spot.”
“This stuff is Spirit material for forging artifacts. Just not sure what an Elixir Cultivator wants with it.”
Yun Liu weighed it in his hand.
“Correct. Sea Crystal Gold, no mistake. More than enough weight. Brother Bai, keep it safe.”
With a wave of his hand, the elixir vial flew straight into Bai’s embrace.
“Sorry, sister dear. Don’t blame me—if someone else can produce Sea Crystal Gold, then that changes things.”
“This—!”
Watching his prize slip away, Dongfang Shuo stared desperately.
“Mister Canghai, why snatch it away like that? First come, first served, surely?”
The White Whale Island Master chuckled and shot back, “Do you have Sea Crystal Gold?”
“No.”
“Well, there you go.”
Canghai and Bai gave their farewells with a cupped-fist salute. Xiao Ran pouted, forced to watch the little Dan Boy gleefully swoop in and steal the deal.
Ruan Yu lowered her voice.
“Didn’t you hear? Young Master Li Su has other uses for it. Once she’s done studying it, we can trade for it again.”
“Right! Even secondhand, it’s still a Heavenly Dao Ginseng Pill!”
“Young Master, wait for me! I’ll be right back!”
Xiao Ran slapped her forehead and chased after them in a whirlwind, her little tag-alongs scattering behind her.
Yun Liu sat cross-legged in meditation, extremely patient. Soon, all three items were sold off one by one.
The Foundation Establishment Pill was still traded to that Tianyin Fang Disciple for Rootless Water—though the other party paid a steep price and was clearly wincing from the loss.
As for the Heavenly Grade Water Milk Pill, it was taken by a silent middle-aged man. Based on his attire, he wasn’t from the Boundless Sea region, and he showed no intention of revealing his identity.
Wu San Fortress Master had his eye on that man. He approached with his Sea Alliance men to strike up a conversation—whether his intentions were foul remained to be seen. If he underestimated his mark, he’d likely get a nasty lesson.
That wasn’t Yun Liu’s problem anymore.
With his shopping complete, Yun Liu took Qin Xiang’s hand and packed up their stall. Along the way, Qing Li delivered a rainbow-colored Sea Tower Token, saying the clan chief trusted Mister’s character and knew he wouldn’t go back on his word.
Yun Liu smiled and accepted it, thanking Madam Yingluo for her kindness. Now there was no way around it—he’d have to make a killing.
The Little Green Flower Fish zipped off after delivering the package, heading straight for Huangmao. She still had to help Senior Sister rig the Prince Consort selection.
The shopkeeper couple had been spreading their spending around, picking up plenty of curious novelties. They brought local specialties for the Junior Sisters of Clear Mist Peak and didn’t forget the elders like Aunt Master—though the biggest dent in their purse was definitely the tailor’s shop.
The Merfolk were famous for Sea Silk. Their fabric was sturdy yet tight, worked on both land and water, and boasted excellent resistance. In both looks and quality, it outclassed ordinary armor.
“Do I look good?”
Qin Xiang stepped out of the fitting room with red cheeks, trying to cover herself up. It was her first time trying such a daring style.
Her jade-white arms, belly button, jade feet, and long legs were all bare. She didn’t even have a place to put her sword.
“Hot!”
That was Yun Liu’s entire review—honest and accurate.
“Hmph, go pay already. No way I’m letting you dirty these new clothes.”
Qin Xiang’s cheeks burned bright red, like a forest spirit in the Sea of Trees. The look on Yun Liu’s face made it obvious exactly what he was thinking.
If changing outfits wasn’t for taking them off, then it was all meaningless!
Spirit Stones were worthless at the Sea Market; the common currency was Demon Cores.
Yun Liu came prepared and paid generously, grabbing Ji Shiyu’s Limited Tide Costume at half price.
The bill, of course, went on Huangmao’s tab—deducted from her wages.
He couldn’t wait to see Ji Shiyu turning into a fountain in the herb garden. What a beautiful sight that would be…
As they stepped outside, they found Penglai Island disciples squaring off against a group of mutant Yao Race.
It turned out a bunch of Little Demons had picked up Penglai Island’s Spiritual Medicine at the Anchao Liekou and refused to give it back. Was there no law anymore? They even wanted the land-dwellers to buy it back with goods!
That infuriated those prideful Elixir Cultivators. To make it worse, Tianyin Fang disciples’ private garments were also being hawked by unscrupulous merchants—and a crowd was snatching them up, all wanting the authentic, original flavor of Fairy Yin’s undergarments and stockings.
A group of female cultivators were mortified beyond words, nearly coming to blows. The two sides were brimming with gunpowder, and Sea Imps maintaining order were multiplying by the second.
The instigator had long since whistled and disappeared into the distance. He only planted the landmines; he didn’t put out the fires.
All the while, Yun Liu kept looking for the Wanderer Gelan had mentioned. Those guys had nothing better to do than randomly respawn all over the map. By all logic, as long as the little game he’d set up wasn’t solved, they’d keep wandering a fixed area.
Just as Yun Liu was about to give up, he spotted a suspicious figure at the Storm Entrance leading to Mirage City. The man clutched a compass, muttering to himself, glancing left and right, then hopped into an ignored, dark pit.
Curious, Yun Liu followed and stared at the pitch-black Dark Reef Cave opening. With the seawater drained, the hidden tunnel beneath the sand pit was exposed.
“What’s wrong?”
Qin Xiang shook her head, eyeing the sticky cave mouth. She didn’t really want to go in.
“Wait for me here.”
Yun Liu thought for a moment, then slipped inside. His Divine Sense was suppressed, so he could only feel his way forward in the dark.
Before long, voices echoed from up ahead. Could someone have been living here before the Great Whirlpool opened?
The cave ended at a stretch of White Sand Ground. A small child with goat-horn braids lay sprawled there, looking no older than three or four.
This was exactly the Demon Ancient Hexagram Text Yun Liu had been searching for!
The kid wore oversized clothes that hung loose on his frame, with a Turtle Shell pendant hanging from his chest.
Sitting across from him was the suspicious middle-aged man—his tattered Daoist robe made him look like a beggar, but his expression was grave.
“Martial Uncle, I’ve come as promised.”
The small child addressed as Martial Uncle said nothing, utterly absorbed in the puzzle drawn in the sand. His eyes held no one else at all.
Yun Liu tucked his hands into his sleeves. Sensing no danger from either of them, he walked straight over to watch.
The Beggar Bow Daoist glanced up at the white-robed youth, slightly surprised, but didn’t pay him any mind. He returned to cracking the puzzle with total focus.